Biography
Zora is a Nigerian-born, British-raised independent and freelance Casting Director specializing in film, television, and commercials in Hollywood. She serves as Vice President of Communications on the Board of Directors for the esteemed Casting Society of America (CSA). Since joining the Board, Zora has contributed to the establishment of the CSA BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) Alliance. Her casting credits include Sacha Baron Cohen's "Ali G InDa House" (2002), "Species III" (2004), and "Loving Annabelle" (2006), which won 10 awards including honors from L.A. Outfest, Atlanta Film Festival, Paris Film Festival, and Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival. The film "Half-Life" earned the emerging director award for Jennifer Phang at the 2008 Asian American Film Festival, won best feature at the 2008 Gen Art Film Festival, and received the jury award at the 2009 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. In 2012, she cast "Sushi Girl," featuring Danny Trejo, Mark Hamill, Michael Biehn, Tony Todd, and Jeff Fahey.
From 2002 to 2004, Zora worked in-house at MGM Television, casting series such as "She Spies," "Dead Like Me," and "Jeremiah." She collaborated with MGM again in late 2014 as a casting consultant on the feature film "Max." That same year, she cast the gritty, urban drama "I Am Gangster," set in East Los Angeles and centered on Latino gangs, which involved casting 66 speaking roles predominantly of Mexican descent, mostly under 18 years old. She concluded 2014 with the martial arts-themed feature "Insight," starring John Savage, Tony Todd, and Keith David. In 2015, Zora worked with Sean Stone, son of Oliver Stone, on "Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece," and reunited with award-winning director Katherine Brooks ("Loving Annabelle") to cast "Lost In Time," which starred Jill Hennessey in the lead role.
Zora has recently completed six feature films: "What is and What Should Never Be," starring Nichelle Nichols; "Red Sneakers," starring Adrian Paul and Erica Gimpel; "Nana's Pancakes," starring Vivica A. Fox; "Michael Vey," based on the book series by Richard Paul Evans about teenagers with special powers; "Closure," starring Shameik Moore and Cleopatra Coleman; and "Trees of Peace," a film based on true stories from the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Collaborating with director McKay Daines, she cast primarily Native American actors for the made-for-TV movie "Shadow Wolves," which tells true stories of Native Americans who work alongside the NSA to combat border crimes. "Shadow Wolves" stars Thomas Gibson, Graham Greene, Louise Lombard, and Cody Walker.
On camera, Zora was the protagonist in the 2005 award-winning documentary "Behind the Couch: Casting in Hollywood," directed by Veit Helmer. In 2006, she appeared as herself, "the Casting Director," on the long-running reality TV series "Gene Simmons: Family Jewels," centered on the rock star and frontman of the band Kiss. In 2019, she returned on camera as an expert casting judge for CBS's "The World's Best," hosted by James Corden with judges Drew Barrymore, Faith Hill, and RuPaul.
With extensive experience in the entertainment industry across the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia, Zora thrives on the interpersonal elements of her work. She excels in relationship building, consistently delivering on commitments, meeting objectives, and achieving desired creative results.
